TBH, I'm not generally opposed to this idea. Social media consumption has a lot of negative consequences, and we could all do with a little less in our lives. However, given the source, I don't trust Republicans to be making these demands in good faith.

What's going to be funny, though, is the number of tech-saavy kids who know how VPNs work. 🍿

Y'all know about 5G, right?

We already block social media at a lot of schools. Doesn't do shit when all you need to do is disconnect from the schools wifi to see what you want...

Honestly, I’m generally okay with this. As long as they don’t push some other agenda along with it.

Social media is, generally, toxic. There are areas that are not but the algos most commercial social media outlets use for engagement are just bad for everyone.

Social media has legitimate research potential. This doesn't stop any kid from doing what they're already doing: using social media on their cell phone with cellular data.

I worry that a bill like this will have riders attached that would change scope drastically. I honestly think in this case it should be up to the school district to self regulate and let the local communities decide what is right in their districts.

(kicks rocks) I’m gonna have to agree with the Republicans.

I guess a broken clock is right twice a day

S'ok with me. Kids need to pay attention in class so they don't end up MAGA

Ultra right wingers in my kids district have banned all cellphones in schools. It's made life hard on parents to communicate with kids.

they only want to block social media to censor lgbtq content and help

This seems like a rare Republican W. Social Media's influence on people, especially young people is utterly toxic.

can't have students live blogging a school shooting while ducking for cover. That would make their benefactors look bad.

They only want to remove children from social media because they're sick and tired of being clowned on by toddlers that are smarter than the Republicans.

So you want them on their cell phones more at school? You can't control those geniuses.

They gonna have a hard time blocking lemmy

This is the best summary I could come up with:

), Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the bill would require that schools prohibit youths from using social media on their networks to be eligible to for the E-Rate program, which provides lower prices for internet access.

While the program is broadly supported by Democrats on Capitol Hill and at the Federal Communications Commission and some prominent Republicans, top GOP congressional leaders including Cruz and conservative activists have lashed out against it as a form of wasteful government spending.

Under the existing program, schools and libraries are ineligible to receive its benefits unless they certify that they have an “Internet safety policy,” including protections against child pornography or other obscene or harmful material.

“Addictive and distracting social media apps are inviting every evil force on the planet into kids’ classrooms, homes, and minds by giving those who want to abuse or harm children direct access to communicate with them online,” Cruz said in a statement.

The campaign has gained steam amid building bipartisan concern over the potential negative mental health impact social media platforms can have on younger users.

The shift is poised to unlock the agency’s Democratic agenda, including efforts to broaden internet affordability programs and to restore broadband regulations such as the Obama-era net neutrality protections.

The original article contains 698 words, the summary contains 210 words. Saved 70%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

Been trying to ban books for awhile, but just now getting to social media...?